Faculty Profile

Vijaya Valaparla, MD
Portrait of Vijaya Valaparla

Assistant Professor

Department: Neurology

Bio ,  Curriculum Vitae
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  • Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi Valaparla is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. She completed her Neurology residency and Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship at UTMB, where she also served as Academic and Administrative Chief Resident.

    Her clinical and research interests include neuromuscular disorders, epilepsy in Alzheimer’s disease, stroke in atrial fibrillation, and the use of artificial intelligence in neurologic care. Dr. Valaparla has received numerous awards for excellence in research, patient safety, and education, including the CIDP Ambassador Program Fellowship from the Clinical Neurological Society of North America.

    A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Valaparla teaches neurology residents and medical students through bedside instruction, didactic sessions, and EEG and neuromuscular conferences. She actively mentors residents, clinical fellows, and undergraduate students pursuing careers in neuroscience.

    Dr. Valaparla serves on the Clinical Research Committee of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society and the Podcast Editorial Board of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. She is also a reviewer for Frontiers in Neurology, Acta Neurologica Belgica, and the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.

  • Medical/Professional School:

    MBBS, Guntur Medical College - Guntur, 2011

    Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX, 2025

    Internships:

    Internship, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX, 2021

    Residencies:

    Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, TX, 2024

    Certifications:

    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, Neurology
    • Bachelor Degree of Medicine, Shandong Medical University, 1989
    • Master Degree of Medicine, Medical School, Qingdao University, 1995
    • PhD, Peking University, 2001
    • MD, University of Science, Arts and Technology, 2015
    • Internship, Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2017
    • Residency, Neurology, 2020
    • Epilepsy Fellowship, UT Health Science Center, 2021
    • Epilepsy
    • Electroencephalography
    • Epilepsy
    • Headache
    • Stroke
    • Neurodegenerative Disease
    • Movement Disorder
    • General Neurology
    • Sun RQ, Ajam Y, Campbell G, Masel T (2020). A Rare Case of Ecchordosis Physaliphora Presenting with Headache, Abducens Nerve Palsy, and Intracranial Hypertension. Cureus 12(6): e8843. doi:10.7759/cureus.8843
    • Sun RQ, Rai P, Shah V, Raghuram K, Bhardwaj A, Kamel A (2019). Stroke like symptoms, radiation therapy induced atypical subclavian steal syndrome: Diagnosis and treatment. Int J Case Rep Images 2019;10:101040Z01RS2019
    • Sun RQ, Yan J, Willis WD (2007). Activation of protein kinase B/Akt in the periphery contributes to pain behavior induced by capsaicin. Neuroscience, 144(1):28-94
    • Sun RQ, Tu Y, Yan J, Willis WD (2006). Activation of protein kinase B/Akt signaling pathway contributes to mechanical hypersensitivity induced by capsaicin. Pain, 120(1-2):86-96
    • Yan JY, Sun RQ, Hughes MG, McAdoo D J, Willis WD (2006). Intradermal injection of capsaicin induces acute SP release from rat spinal cord dorsal horn. Neurosci Lett, 410(3):183-6
    • Sun RQ, Tu YJ, Lawand NB, Yan JY, Lin Q, Willis WD (2004). Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor activation produces PKA- and PKC-dependent mechanical hyperalgesia and central sensitization. Journal of Neurophysiology, 92(5):2859-66
    • Sun RQ, Lawand NB, Lin Q, Willis WD (2004). Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the sensitization of dorsal horn neurons to mechanical stimulation after intradermal injection of capsaicin. Journal of Neurophysiology. 92(1):320-6
    • Tu YJ, Sun RQ, Willis WD. Effects of intrathecal injections of melatonin analogs on capsaicin-induced secondary mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in rats (2004). Pain. 109(3):340-50
    • Sun RQ, Wang H, Wan Y, Jing Z, Luo F, Han JS, Wang Y (2004). Suppression of neuropathic pain by peripheral electrical stimulation in rats: mu-opioid receptor and NMDA receptor implicated. Experimental Neurology, 187(1):23-9
    • Sun RQ, Lawand NB., Willis WD (2003). The role of calcitonin gene-related        peptide (CGRP) in the generation and maintenance of mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in rats after intradermal injection of capsaicin. Pain, 104: 201-208
    • Sun RQ, Zhao C, Wang H, Jing Z, Wang W, Yang K, Wang Y, Chang JK, and Han JS (2001). Nocistatin, a peptide reversing acute and chronic morphine tolerance. NeuroReport, 12 (8): 1789-1792
    • Sun RQ, Wang Y, Zhao CS, Chang JK, Han JS (2001). Changes in brain content of nociceptin/orphanin FQ and endomorphin 2 in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Neurosci Lett, 311: 13-16
    • Award for Excellence in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Department of Neurology, UTMB (2020)
    • Award for the top RITE score, Neurology, UTMB (2020)
    • Investigator Travel Award from American Pain Society (2004, 2006, 2007)
    • National Science and Technology Award (Second Place) from the Chinese Association for the Study of Acupuncture for Neurobiological Mechanism of Acupuncture Analgesia (2010)
    • American Epilepsy Society (AES), 7/2020-present
    • American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 7/2017-present
    • American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), 7/2017-present
    • American Neurological Association (ANA), 4/2018-present
    • Society for Neuroscience (SFN), 2002-2009
    • American Pain Society (APS), 2002-2009